Download E-books Against All Odds: Shot Down Over Occupied Territory in World War II PDF

By Frederick D. Worthen

In the course of international battle II ten younger volunteers from everywhere in the usa got here jointly to shape the "Rosacker" group within the 93rd Bomb staff of the eighth U.S. Air strength, flying B-24 Liberators established in England. They flew 24 missions jointly throughout the remaining months of the warfare. Their final challenge was once on January 28, 1945. the objective was once in Germany's Ruhr Valley, sometimes called "Flak Alley". approximately midway throughout the bomb run, with heavy flak within the region, we misplaced the number one engine. After repeated makes an attempt neither Glenn nor Otis may well get the propeller into the feathered place, that is required to lessen wind resistance at the plane. shall we now not stay alongside of the formation, so we dropped out of place, nonetheless attempting to feather the propeller. one other B-24 subsequent to them was once blown up through an immediate hit from the anti-aircraft batteries. A moment engine give up, and a 3rd was once wasting strength (they in basic terms had 4 engines). the alternative used to be to ditch within the North Sea and die of publicity, or attempt to make it to an airfield in Antwerp, Belgium, which used to be occupied by means of Canadian troops. however the airplane was once happening quickly. At 1,000 toes they bailed out: "I jumped and counted to 10 in approximately seconds. i do know my 'chute should have come with reference to catching on a tail fin. good, the full rip twine, deal with, and cable pulls thoroughly unfastened from the 'chute pack. I pulled so demanding my complete arm flew above my head. I knew the 'chute used to be damaged. i used to be attempting to determine the right way to pull the 'chute out of the backpack by way of hand whilst out of the blue it opened, with the 'chute and me in a horizontal position." yet that wasn't all. take into accout the aircraft, with its useless engines developing drag on one part, inflicting it to show? "I may well pay attention the airplane nonetheless flying close by; Joe had positioned it on autopilot. It sounded as though it was once coming again at me." Then they heard the bullets. under them was once a German military camp in occupied Holland. The enemy bullets and their very own aircraft by some means overlooked them, however the males have been captured, and the slim escapes persisted, one after one other. Their captors took them "out back," the place the american citizens inspiration they'd be shot, yet weren't; the German civilians desired to lynch the airmen as they have been led on a compelled march via Bavaria from one POW camp to a different. The prisoners have been shot at through their guards, and back by means of the SS on liberation day. Miraculously, all ten fliers survived the battle. Fifty years later 9 of the 10 airmen comprehensive this ebook, operating jointly to refresh and proper every one other's stories. "This isn't the traditional hard-core warfare tale. we've got incorporated family members ties, the crew's education and formation, our reviews and emotions, dealing with serious hardships, the humor that was once nonetheless there, and the getting on with our lives." loads of this turns out lovely "hard-core" to us, but in addition usually very humorous, deeply clever, and terribly human. those males have been heroes. thanks all, gents, to your flying, and for purchasing your tale down on paper.

Mick Foley is a pleasant guy, a family members guy who loves entertainment parks and consuming ice cream in mattress. So how one can clarify these eastern dying fits in jewelry with explosives, golden thumbtacks and barbed twine rather than rope? The second-degree burn tissue? And the lacking ear that was once ripped off in the course of a bout-in which he stored battling?

Former Boston Globe reporter Tina Cassidy can provide a outstanding account of 1 yr within the lifetime of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, America’s favourite first woman and a global icon. 1975 used to be a yr of enormous alterations for Jackie: it was once the 12 months she misplaced her moment husband, delivery mogul Aristotle Onassis, stored one in all long island City’s cultural landmarks at Grand primary Station, and located her real calling—not as a robust man’s spouse or the mum of destiny leaders, yet as a girl of the group with a willing brain and a commitment to excellence.

Steve Davis used to be only a rookie from Plumstead, south London, studying tips on how to play from an previous ebook his snooker-obsessed father had given him, while an come across with Barry Hearn replaced his lifestyles endlessly. along with his backing, Steve started traveling the rustic in a clapped-out vehicle as an novice. difficult proven execs and successful titles, supported by way of his dependable following the Romford Roar, it wasn’t lengthy prior to he advanced to the world’s degree.

Black Sabbath is presently on “The finish Tour,” which they've got proclaimed as their ultimate live performance travel. Iron guy chronicles the tale of either pioneering guitarist Tony Iommi and mythical band Black Sabbath, dubbed “The Beatles of heavy steel” via Rolling Stone. Iron guy finds the fellow in the back of the icon but nonetheless captures Iommi’s humor, intelligence, and heat.

Extra info for Against All Odds: Shot Down Over Occupied Territory in World War II

Remembers: We have been all constrained upstairs within the construction. We have been positioned in a barbed-wire enclosure with a German safeguard outdoors the twine manning a laptop gun pointed immediately at us. there has been a wide pile of hay for us to sleep on. It used to be hot and in mins i used to be snoozing. whilst I aroused from sleep, the one workforce member left within the sector used to be Dusty. I requested, “Where is each person? ” In a trembling voice Dusty spoke back, “Gibbs, they've been taking all people out, separately. ” No had he acknowledged this than a computing device gun opened fireplace downstairs. Dusty stated the computer gun fired each jiffy. This was once it – what we had heard approximately Germans killing prisoners used to be actual. whilst i used to be taken downstairs, there has been extra interrogation: “Where is your place? we have to notify the crimson move that you're alive and good. ” This and comparable questions I spoke back merely with identify, rank, and serial quantity. thankfully, the six people have been reunited. • I have in mind this good. while i used to be requested by means of the interrogator for my mom and dad' identify and tackle, I hesitated. i wished my relatives and Connie to grasp that i used to be alive and good, yet this was once now not how it may be performed. even though, it used to be vital to me that they knew, so I gave them a reputation and handle. From there we glided by teach to Frankfurt. The view was once incredible – devastation for blocks and blocks round, simply leveled constructions. It appeared unreal to be in the midst of it. The date used to be February 1, 1945. From Frankfurt we went instantly through streetcar to Oberursel, the German important interrogation heart. This used to be known as Dulag Luft, or front camp, and was once made of 3 sections: a health center in Hohemark, an interrogation cen- 110 opposed to ALL ODDS ter in Oberursel, and a transit camp in Wetzlar. We have been in solitary confinement for ten days, every one in a separate mobile. every one mobilephone was once 5 ft broad, twelve ft lengthy, and had a cot, desk, chair, and an electrical bell to name the safeguard. Prisoners have been denied cigarettes, bathroom articles, and crimson move nutrients. the conventional remain used to be 4 to 5 days, yet a few prisoners have been saved longer as a punitive degree for no longer revealing the knowledge that was once requested of them. the 1st evening the English bombers came around and dropped their sizeable blockbusters. they simply stored coming. i assumed they'd by no means cease. The sound of the explosions was once insupportable. i used to be interrogated approximately 5 occasions by way of a German Captain. there has been nearly not anything group in our place may well inform them that they did not already recognize. that they had a library of records on all people within the eighth Air strength, and possibly all of the different air forces in Europe. that they had my education position, after we got here to the 93rd, the C. O. and squadron commanders' names, missions flown, and masses extra. The interrogator may turn into very irate and pound on his table and threaten me with damage while I refused to reply to him. This most likely was once in general an act, however it was once frightening. I simply did not know the way a ways he might visit get details. something he saved engaged on was once how I felt whilst flying via flak.